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Stairway to Heaven!

The Haiku Stairs, a.k.a. the Stairway to Heaven, is on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

Image from haikustairs.com

1. It’s a steel staircase made up of 4000 steps that ascends a ridge up from the Valley of Haiku near Kaneohe. 2. The steps were built so the military could access a radio station antennae 2000ft up on the mountain during World War II.3. Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) trail has been closed since 1987. Neither the State of Hawaii or the City and County of Honolulu have no plans to re-open the stairs. It is illegal to hike this stairway.4. The stairs are broken up into 4 or 5 sections with platforms to rest on between each. 5. The trail began as a wooden ladder spiked to the cliff on the south side of the Haʻikū Valley.6. It was installed in 1942 to enable antenna cables to be strung from one side of the cliffs above Haiku Valley to the other. 7. In the mid-1950s, the wooden stairs were replaced by sections of metal steps and ramps — by one count, 3,922 steps. The station and trail were closed to the public in 1987. 8. Some hikers ignore the 'No Trespassing' signs and continue to climb, contributing to the local community's misgivings about reopening the structure.

http://www.kanoahelms.com/photo/The-First-Platform

9. In 2003, the stairs were repaired, costing the city $875,000.

The Honolulu Advertiser, 1981

As of early 2012, land usage rights issues have not been resolved. 10. The City and County of Honolulu has stated that there is currently no plan to open the stairs for public use, citing liability concerns.